A local Euro MP today was today demanding assurances over fears the expanding the European Union could open the floodgates to cut-price steel products - and threaten thousands of steelworkers' jobs.

A local Euro MP today was today demanding assurances over fears the expanding the European Union could open the floodgates to cut-price steel products - and threaten thousands of steelworkers' jobs.

Six UK MEPs have tabled questions to the European Commission calling for action to be taken to ensure the new countries being admitted into the EU will have to restructure their steel industries, and end state subsidies.

The campaign for a 'level playing field' is being led by Yorkshire and Humber MEP David Bowe, who says new countries entering the EU - such as Poland and Hungary - are significant steel producers and could have a devastating impact on the European market.

Union bosses today backed the call for reassurances over the issue.

Mr Bowe said: "This is just one example of the implications of enlargement for the stability of the single European market - and the jobs of workers in key industries such as steel.

"The reality is in a number of central and eastern European countries their steel industries are either wholly state-run or are heavily state subsidised.

"As yet we have had no information or assurances from either the applicant countries or the Commission as to what the position will be if they become members of the EU."

He added: "No existing EU member would be allowed to operate these kind of subsidies and state support. It would be a total distortion of the single market - not to mention a serious threat to EU steel producers and their workers."

Ten countries have been given the go-ahead to join the EU- the biggest single expansion since the original six pioneering nations formed the Common Market 50 years ago.

Steel giant Corus employs around 4,000 staff at its sites across Teesside.

Tony Poynter, chairman of the Teesside multi-union committee, said he backed the MEPs' move as the issue was one for "concern".

"There has to be a level playing field in the EU. But for some of these countries entering it will mean massive restructuring and job losses.

"We've been through that already on Teesside and in the UK, we've had the pain. They should have to do the same.

"I'm pleased the issue has been raised early as it is one for concern.

"It would put our industry at a big disadvantage if the countries coming into the EU did not abide by the current rules."

Corus spokesman on Teesside Craig Evans today said: "We're very happy that the questions have been asked by the MEPs. We've been asking questions for the past few months and we're pleased to see the situation has been recognised at this level."

The historic enlargement to 25 EU member states will not take place until mid-2004.

Hungary, Poland , the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia plus the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania as well as Malta and Cyprus are set to join.